Epaper_23-05-18 LHR

ROOTS OF ‘MUTINOUS ATTACK’ ON STATE INSTALL ATIONS LIE IN IMRAN NIA ZI’S SPEECHES: PM

Marriyum declares May 9

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the roots of the mutinous attack on the state its symbols and sensitive installations on May 9 lie in the contents of Imran Niazi s speeches over the past one year In a tweet, Shehbaz

Sharif said Imran Khan has liberally deployed religious imagery to brand his political agitation as a war between truth and falsehood

Imran Khan has relentlessly maligned and attacked the armed forces and the sitting Army Chief and very cunningly prepared his cult with the slogans of Haqeeqi Azadi aimed at inciting them for violence we witnessed on May 9 ”

Shehbaz Sharif said “Listen to his speeches and you will get your answers ”

The PM directed that the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) should leave no stone unturned to bring those involved in the incidents of vandalism, arson and violence to justice At the same time, they should make sure that no innocent person gets punished,” he said

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to hold an important meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Pishin on Thursday (tomorrow)

The meeting is likely to take place in Balochistan city of Pishin and there is possibility that the prime minister will visit Balochistan on May 18 for this important meeting Sources confided that Shehbaz-Raisi meeting may take place near the Pishin’s border corridor Both the leaders are expected to jointly inaugurate the 100MW

g Re m i t t a n c e s f r o m o v e r s e a s Pa k i s t a n i s s h r i n k b y 1 3 % a m i d s t e c o n o m i c c h a l l e n g e s

Direct Investment

decreased by almost 29% in April and 23% in

first 10 months of the current fiscal year This decline in FDI, combined with a 13% drop in remittances from overseas Pakistanis poses a serious risk to Pakistan’s ability to meet its external obligations as it faces a default-like situation due to falling foreign exchange reserves

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that FDI in April was $121 6 million compared to $170 6 million in the same period last year Financial sector experts attribute this decline to persistent political instability that has shaken the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan China remains Pakistan s biggest investor, but its investment decreased to $348 million in 10MFY23 from $403 million in the same period last year Despite some investments from other countries like Japan and Switzerland experts don t anticipate any improvement in foreign inflows in the near future if the political crisis continues

electricity import project

The sources further revealed that Pakistan at the moment is importing 200MW electricity from Iran and there is room to increase it to 500MW

Pakistan has been importing electricity from Iran since 2002 for its Makran Division President Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz are also expected to formally open Pak-Iran border market

Both the leaders will also attend a briefing on electricity import from Iran, border markets and on new cor-

ridor in Pishin

The sources said that related issues had been finalized during the recent visit to Pakistan of Iran Majlis’ National Security and Foreign Policy Commission

Chairman Wahid Jalalzada

The sources said setting up of three new trade markets on Pakistan-Iran border are also in the pipeline Such a trade market had already been in operation at Mand while work on opening of other markets was under way

and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said military installations, and public and private properties were attacked along with desecration of memorials of martyrs and Ghazis on May 9 under a “well thought-out plan” which came under purview of sedition and treason Imran Khan is the mastermind of instigating armed groups who attacked sensitive military and civilian installations and desecrated the memorials of Ghazis and martyrs on May 9,” the minister said while addressing a news conference She said it was decided in the meeting of the National Security Committee yesterday that May 9 would be observed as Black Day every year to condemn those who had attacked the country What the armed groups of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) did on May 9, the arch enemy of Pakistan could not dare to do in 75 years history,” she added “Under Imran Khan’s well-thought-out planning the PTI armed groups and planted goons attacked the military installations and other important buildings she said adding even hospitals ambulances, patients and schools were not spared on May 9 The minister also regretted the desecration of the memorials of martyrs and Ghazis that did hurt the sentiments of the valiant soldiers guarding the country’s borders The historical building of Radio Pakistan was also set on fire in Peshawar by the PTI goons

PTI given 24 hours to deliver ‘ter rorists’ who torched Lahore general’s house

g M i n i s t e

The interim government of Punjab has issued an ultimatum to the Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) party demanding the surrender of a group of 30-40 terrorists allegedly taking refuge at the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore

A wave of violence engulfed Islamabad and other urban areas following the dramatic arrest of Khan from a courtroom in Islamabad on Tuesday last week

Angry supporters torched buildings and vehicles and attacked police and military personnel and facilities The clashes killed 10 people; authorities arrested 4 000 The Supreme Court later ordered Khan s release and criticised the way he was arrested The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused the former premier of hiding suspects linked to the attacks on military installations at his residence in Lahore

In a news conference in Lahore Amir Mir the caretaker information minister emphasised that the opposition party must comply with the demand or face legal consequences, claiming to be in possession of credible intelligence confirming the presence of these protestors labeled as militants Mir expressed “deep concern” regarding the intelligence report which he claimed presented alarming findings

Through the employment of geo-fencing technology, government agencies have allegedly verified the location of these individuals within Zaman Park Accusing PTI of adopting non-state actor tendencies Mir criticised the former prime minister for incessantly targeting the military for over a year He appealed to the party to promptly “hand over the terrorists to the authorities ” Furthermore Mir claimed that the PTI leadership had allegedly orchestrated an attack prior to Khan s arrest Elaborating on the matter, he disclosed that a premeditated plan was executed during the violent

protests on May 9, which included assaults on military installations

To combat this menace the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy and granted the police full authority as interim chief minister Mohsin Naqvi has sanctioned decisive measures against arsonists

During the news conference, the minister disclosed that the attack on the official residence of the commander of the Lahore Corps could have been easily averted if the caretaker chief minister had not prohibited the police from using firearms

Road to Makkah program to be extended to Lahore, Karachi airpor ts next year: Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Wednesday said that Road to Makkah program would be extended to Lahore and Karachi airports next year which would streamline the entire immigration process of pilgrims, ensuring that all necessary requirements were fulfilled at these airports Addressing a ceremony held in honor of Saudi Arabia s Deputy Interior Minister Dr Nasir Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood and his delegation, the minister said that 26,000 pilgrims were availing a hasslefree immigration process at Islamabad airport under this program He said the Saudi Arabia s Deputy Interior Minister has promised to extend it for 40 000 pilgrims The minister said that he along with Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Talha Mehmood, have requested to start this facility at Lahore and Karachi airports which would be available there in next year It is to mention that Road to Makkah program has been initially started from the Islamabad airport and this initiative has revolutionized the immigration process for pilgrims, ensuring a hassle-free experience for those going to Makkah C

S E N AT E F I N A N C E C O M M I T T E E D I R E C T S S B P T O

P R O H I B I T C R Y P T O C U R R E N C Y I N PA K I S TA N

TH E Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has directed State Bank of Pakistan to prohibit cryptocurrency in Pakistan The meeting of the committee was held under the chair of Senator Saleem Mandviwala on Wednesday at Parliament house

SBP officials informed the committee that the Central Bank in 2018 prohibited its regulated entities from dealing in virtual digital currency also known as cryptocurrency keeping in view the number of frauds reported through crypto currency including frauds of $2 billion in Turkey by an exchange company

They said that the global crypto market cap had shrunk from $2 8 trillion to $1 2 trillion and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Federal Board of Revenue’s Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) were monitoring Pakistani investments in cryptocurrencies on a regular basis and that an investigation was currently underway SBP officials further said that over 16,000 types of different cryptocurrencies had been created so far, adding that cryptocurrencies are a high-risk investment

Officials called the exchange medium a total fraud and said it should never be legalized in Pakistan Committee chairman Salim Mandviwala said that Pakistanis had invested billions of dollars in the contentious financial instrument He also directed authorities to block cryptocurrency services and websites dealing with the instrument in Pakistan

Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha informed the c o m m i t t e e t h a t c r y p t o c u r r e n c i e s w i l l n e v e r b e l e g a l i z e d i n P a k i s t a n S h e s a i d t h e F i n a n c i a l A c t i o n Ta s k F o r c e ( FAT F ) had imposed strict conditions on the usability and viability of cryptocurrencies, t h e r e f o r e t h i s m e d i u m o f e x c h a n g e w i l l not be allowed in Pakistan

Following extensive deliberations on the issue the standing committee directed authorities to prohibit the use of cryptocurren-

cies in Pakistan

Briefing by the SECP on media reports regarding proposed amendments to NonBanking Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations SECP officials said that reports pertaining to the increase in its fees on AMC s by over 350 % to the original level which was reduced after detailed deliberations by the SECP policy board in fiscal year 2020, are baseless

It was briefed that the policy board has the power and mandate to specify fees chargeable by the SECP and SECP implements the fees as approved by the policy board

It was briefed that the policy board of the SECP along with other private members comprises Secretary Finance Division, Secretary Law, Secretary Commerce and Deputy Governor State Bank who are permanent members It was apprised that the rates of fees have been revised to the level of 2019 after detailed deliberation and care-

Taxing cash withdrawals will be last nail in coffin of sinking economy: Atif Ikram

ISLAMABAD: Former Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh on Wednesday said the failed experiment of levying tax on bank withdrawals should not be repeated In a statement issued here he clarified that the move would prove to be the last nail in the coffin of our sinking economy Such a move will promote the undocumented economy as the business community did not accept this decision before and will not accept it now, he added Atif Ikram Sheikh who has also served as President ICCI and Chairman PVMA said that in the past the business community have used their own parallel banking system against the decision of imposing withholding tax on withdrawing money from the banks

The revolt of the business community sucked huge sums of money from the banking system, he said, adding that at that time, the state of the country’s economy and strength of banks was not what it is today, nor were the big banks of America and Europe were going bankrupt

It would be appropriate to trash such a proposal which has nothing to do with the ground realities of Pakistan

He noted that the state of our tax system is in such a bad state that there are only 7 6 lakh people registered with FBR, out of which around Rs4 million file tax returns, while many among the filers do not deposit even a single rupee as tax “If this proposal is implemented the entire population will have to pay this tax except for these people he underlined Atif Ikram Sheikh said that the burden on the taxpayers and the public is always increased in the name of tax reforms while the tax net is not extended and the non-tax paying sectors are not targeted He said that due to increasing direct taxes, endless surcharges cumbersome paperwork unfriendly attitude and other problems the share of taxes in the country s GDP is so low that it is impossible to increase it without effective measures I N p

ful analysis in the Financial position and autonomy of SECP

The meeting was informed that this is not an increase but a reversion to the 2007 level

The meeting was also informed by an SECP official that the amendments have been made after detailed deliberation with industry stakeholders including MUFAP The meeting discussed that SECP is only charging annual fees from mutual funds whereas in other jurisdictions multiple fees including approval of funds registration of fund annual fees filing fees are also imposed

While taking briefing by the FBR on the Capital Value Tax, on local and foreign assets of taxpayers introduced in the Finance Act 2022

The meeting was informed that CVT was levied on foreign assets of resident individuals exceeding Rs 100 million in value and motor vehicles exceeding battery power of 1300 cc/ 50 kWh Similarly the value of assets to be determined in case of foreign assets is the total cost of foreign assets on the last day of the tax year converted into Pakistan rupee at SBP notified exchange rate as on 30th June 2022

The meeting was also told that collection of CVT of Rs 3,194 million and Rs 6,045 million from foreign assets has been made since the operationalizing of this law

As a result of tax policy shift the direct tax collection has for the first time surpassed all individual indirect taxes as direct tax (in-

come tax/CVT) 45% Sales tax 42 % and custom duty 13 %

Senator Dilawar Khan recommended direct tax collection at district level and said it will give fruitful results Aisha Ghaus Pasha, State Minister for Finance said that this has been tried earlier but was not workable The Chairman Committee called for an in camera meeting to take briefing on all such regimes and its implementation mechanism

The Senate Standing Committee also decided to hold pre-budget meetings with all the relevant stakeholders from next week to take their suggestions for incorporating in the budget for the next fiscal year

Senator Sadia Abbasi proposed that the committee should invite all the stakeholders in the meetings with the objective to hear their suggestions and concerns and thereby recommending the government to incorporate them in the upcoming budget The com-

NAB summons PTI chief, wife, ex- c abinet ministers in National C rime Agenc y £190m S c andal

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday summoned former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his spouse and former federal ministers in National Crime Agency £190m Scandal known as Al-Qadir Trust Case

According to NAB insiders the accountability watchdog has decided to made PTI leaders – who were part of PTI cabinet – part of investigation

In this regard, the NAB issued summons notices to former federal ministers Ali Zaidi Shafqat Mehmood Hammad Azhar Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Zulfi Bukhari Meanwhile the bureau also summoned former federal minister Faisal Vawda in the case

Furthermore, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also summoned Bushra Bibi – wife of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan – in the Al-Qadir Trust case The NAB instructed the former prime minister to

bring the documents related to the case

A three-member team of the antigraft body reached Zaman Park to hand over the summons to Bushra Bibi for tomorrow’s appearance Earlier the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) changed the title of the Al-Qadir Trust case to National Crime Agency £190m Scandal , summoning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on May 18 According to details the accountability watchdog summoned Imran Khan on May 18 in a personal capacity in the Al-Qadir Trust case which title has been changed to National Crime Agency £190m Scandal Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau also summoned Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in National Crime Agency £190m Scandal or commonly known as Al-Qadir Trust case on May 24 The anti-graft watchdog has directed Sheikh Rashid to appear before the bureau on May 24 along with the documents related to the case

Hours after receiving the NAB notice, Rashid, in his video message on Twitter, said that he was ready for the arrest and has prepared his bag “I will stand firm like a rock Jail is like house of my in-laws My luggage is ready Many thanks to NAB for implicating me in £190 million [scam]

I am grateful to NAB that it has also made me a party with Imran Khan in the case of £190 million,” he said

A L-Q A D I R T R U S T C A S E: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation against Imran Khan Bushra Bibi and others for the alleged gain of hundreds of canals of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer

As per the charges the Khan and others accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion 190 million pounds at the time sent by Britain s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government Former PM Imran Khan had registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on Dec 26 2019

mittee endorsed this view point with the decision of holding meetings most probably from next week

A breifing was also taken on the delay in implementation of the decision of the Finance Committee by the Ministry of Finance regarding additional PSDP demand for project protection and upgradation of Pak-China OFC project for establishment of cross border connectivity (Dassi-Danyore alignment) Senator Umer Farooq regretted that new projects are being funded whereas projects near to completion are not allocated funds

The committee lamented the mismanagement and mysterious working of the ministry of IT & T and the planning commission on the allocation of funds and its disbursement The chairman committee reiterated the release of funds of 608 M rupees in order to close the project The committee sought a report on the same from the IT ministry

Civilians’ trial under Army Act would raise question about transparency: Senator Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People s Party (PPP)

PAC hints at issuing warrant for SC registrar Climber Naila Kiani to receive Sitara-i-Imtiaz for Mount

summit

Cabinet Secretary to complete all formalities in this regard The prime minister earlier had announced to confer Sitara-i-Imtiaz on Naila Kiani as she brought laurels to Pakistan, through her achievement Staff RepoRt

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said it may issue arrest warrants against the Supreme Court registrar who has failed to appear before the parliament’s accountability body despite multiple summons

The committee on Tuesday held a meeting to review the financial affairs of the top court from the fiscal year 2010-11 to 2020-21 During the meeting, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan observed that the principal accounting officer of the SC was not present in the meeting PAC member Rohale Asghar asked who would respond to the supplementary grants in the absence of the SC’s principal accounting officer

He suggested reducing the court’s supplementary grants Khan noted that the PAC could not take any action outside the law

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan told PAC that a full court had decided that the SC regis-

trar would not appear before the committee

The PAC chairman asked the reason behind the decision inquiring if it was not against the law

The AGP told PAC that it was not written anywhere in that decision that the registrar would not provide the required information to the committee Khan observed that when a former chief justice of Pakistan had opened a dam funds account it was said that it would be audited

We are not asking for anything illegal, he added The AGP said whatever money the apex court spent was audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan He said it was the responsibility of PAC to ask for the details and the SC registrar must provide these details to the committee

The PAC chairman said the SC registrar was accountable for the audit paras During the meeting details of the salaries of the president prime minister judges and ministers were presented before PAC on its request Auditor General Ajmal

Gondal told PAC that all government institutions were fully audited Asghar noted that details of the salaries had been provided but there were no details about allowances

Khan said PAC had not sought the details of the SC judges, but the salaries and facilities availed by everyone PAC member Wajiha Qamar observed that Pakistani courts were ranked fifth out of six regionally and globally at number 129

Noor Alam Khan inquired what would the other institutions do when the one responsible for justice was resorting to these measures He said the committee would provide all this information to the media

Asghar maintained that they paid the rent and electricity bill of the government lodges they lived in

The PAC chairman said he would seek a legal opinion on the SC registrar ’s letter in which he had refused to attend the committee’s meeting

He said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was also unwilling to have its audit carried out

Senator Raza Rabbani on Wednesday opposed the trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters under the Army Act for attacking defence installations and damaging public property following the party chief Imran Khan s arrest in a graft case on May 9 Senator Rabbani stressed there is a criminal justice system present with special anti-terrorist laws and courts Being civilians the planners, abetters and attackers should be tried under this system,” Senator Rabbani said in a statement issued here on Wednesday “ no leniency should be shown towards those who attacked burnt and looted public and defence installations under a political agenda the PPP senator said He said civilians must not be tried under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, as such trials would raise the question of transparency and draw the debate in a direction that will generate sympathy The PPP leader further said it was against the fundamental rights in the Constitution and added that this had been his constant position on this issue Such trials of arson and burning under the Army Act, 1952, will be challenged before the superior courts and are likely to be found not in accordance with law he added The statement comes a day after the high-powered National Security Committee (NSC) endorsed the Corps Commander Conference s decision to hold the trial of arsonists under the Army Act, Official Secrets Act, and other concerned laws under the Constitution Referring to the establishment of military courts to try terrorists the senator said a one-time amendment was made by Parliament in 2015 which was also not a correct decision, but that too has lapsed He urged the coalition government to rethink the question of the trial of civilians under the Army Act, but not let up on awarding the strictest sentences under the criminal justice system A day earlier a statement issued by the Prime Minister House said the NSC while strongly condemning military installations acts of arson for the sake of political motives and personal interests, declared to observe May 9 as ‘Black Day’ at the national level The participants of the NSC meeting expressed complete solidarity and support for the armed forces The meeting expressed the resolve that desecration and military installations and public property were intolerable and pledged to bring all the culprits to task Earlier on Monday, a Special Corps Commanders’ Conference with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in the chair had also expressed the resolve to hold the trial of abettors planners and miscreants involved in attacks on military installations and public property under the Army Act and the Official Secret Act S ta f f R e p o Rt

Foreign ministry launches portal to enhance communication with missions

ISLAMABAD

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated

the Share Pakistan Portal a digital platform aimed at fostering improved communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and over 100 diplomatic missions worldwide

The portal developed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Board (NITB) serves as a standardised online information system to collect and convey the impact of public diplomacy initiatives aligned with Pakistan s foreign policy objectives

Speaking at the launch event, Bilawal highlighted the “Foreign Minister ’s Change Management Initiative” which aims to enhance the ministry’s effectiveness through comprehensive management reforms Teams comprising experts from the foreign ministry

and diplomatic missions contributed to brainstorming and formulating reforms in areas such as human resources, finance, logistics, communication, counselor services protocol and community services

These reforms seek to digitalise and simplify rules policies and procedures fostering a culture focused on results productivity value innovation and decentralised decision-making Bhutto-Zardari emphasised that the Change Management Initiative will transform the diplomatic service, equipping it to respond to the challenges of the modern world The initiative aims to establish seamless communication channels between the ministry and diplomatic missions abroad

The newly launched portal facilitates streamlined communication and information sharing horizontally and vertically within the domain of public diplomacy, enabling efficient and transparent implementation of various initiatives It marks a significant milestone in

integrating digital technologies into public diplomacy strategic outreach efforts and institutional practices

The portal will aid diplomacy in decision support, drafting strategic communication translating foreign policy and analysing emerging trends Bhutto-Zardari expressed confidence that the portal would serve as a model for future projects enabling effective communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its missions He expressed gratitude to the NITB and the Ministry of Information Technology for their partnership in developing the portal enhancing the visibility of public diplomacy activities and achieving foreign policy goals The foreign minister extended congratulations to the Spokesperson s Office and the Strategic Communications team for the successful launch of the portal The event saw the participation of high commissioners and ambassadors through video-link, emphasising the global reach and significance of the initiative

U S R E P O R T C R I T I C I Z E S G O V T O F PA K I S TA N F O R

U S I N G B L A S P H E M Y C A R D A G A I N S T I

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

AN annual US report has once again criticised the Pakistan Democratic Movement government for using the blasphemy card against former prime minister Imran Khan

The US report on international religious freedom which was released in Washington on Monday noted that several political leaders used inflammatory religious language to attack their political rivals last year

The annual report covers 2022 events

“On Sept 13 Pakistan Muslim League

Nawaz party leader Javed Latif in a press conference accused former prime minister Imran Khan of attacking the basic principles of Islam by supporting the Ahmadiyya

PTI given 24 hours to deliver ‘terrorists’ who torched Lahore general’s house

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The decision to avoid bloodshed in the province was cited as the reason behind the restriction, he said In relation to the assault on the building, the information minister claimed that several individuals involved in the arson were in communication with individuals inside Zaman Park He emphasized that those responsible for the attack would be dealt with severely to serve as a deterrent for future such acts

Pakistan, UK to join hands to eliminate hate content on social, online media

ISLAMABAD

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Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Wednesday agreed to work together to eliminate content related to hate and terrorism on social and online media The decision was made during a meeting between acting British High Commissioner Andrew Dagleish and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb During the meeting the promotion of bilateral diplomatic relations including cooperation in various fields of media, digital media, media training and filmmaking, was also discussed The minister congratulated the ambassador and the people of the UK over the coronation of King Charles III Ms Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s recent visit to the United Kingdom and his participation in the coronation of King Charles III were manifestation of the friendship based on respect and trust between the two countries Stating that Pakistan attached special importance to bilateral relations with Britain she expressed the determination to further strengthen the bilateral ties During discussion on the cooperation in film policy and media training, the minister said film and drama played an important role in highlighting the culture and positive identity of any country Marriyum Aurangzeb appreciated the role of the British government for development of health education governance and human resource in Pakistan She said the Pakistan government would get help from Britain s modern media curriculum to provide training to journalists

Terrorism cases: ATC sends 149 workers for identification parade

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday sent 149 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to jail on 7-day judicial remand for identification parade in different cases lodged against them for carrying out attacks on the Jinnah House (the corps commander house), public & private buildings, law enforcement agencies and their vehicles after the arrest of Imran Khan ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan conducted the proceedings of the cases at different intervals of the day Earlier the Sarwar Road police produced 94 PTI workers, including 2 female tiktokers, before the court

The investigation officer submitted that a case had been registered against the accused on charges of attacking the Jinnah House (the corps commander house) looting valuables worth over Rs150 million and setting it on fire

He pleaded with the court to send the accused to jail on judicial remand for identification parade At this, the court accepted the plea and sent the accused to jail on judicial remand for identification parade The court also directed police to produce the accused on expiry of the remand term Meanwhile the Gulberg police also produced 22 PTI workers before the court

The investigation officer submitted that three cases had been registered against the accused over charges of setting Askari Tower on fire, damaging state property terrorism and others

He pleaded with the court to send the accused to jail for identification parade which was accordingly accepted by the court The court sent the accused to jail on 7-day judicial remand for identification parade and ordered police to produce them on expiry of the remand term The Mughalpura police produced 14 PTI workers before the court The investigation officer submitted that the accused were involved in a case of damaging state property terrorism and other charges

community while he was in office, the report pointed out “Mr Latif accused Khan of giving interviews to foreign media in which he promised that Qadianis [Ahmadis] will be given religious freedom the report added

The report also noted that JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman tweeted messages on Sept 7 calling Mr Khan a “pro-Qadiani” and a “Jewish agent” Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf responded by accusing the government of spreading religious bigotry and hatred the report added Says blasphemy cases in Pakistan remain a substantial threat to religious freedom

INITIAL REPORT: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) which compiles the annual report raised this issue in its initial report as well

which was released on May 1, noting that the new government under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif which took office in April 2022 weaponised the country s blasphemy laws against Mr Khan and his cabinet members

The issue was also raised at a US State Department news briefing earlier this month when Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the United States “strongly oppose(s) laws that impede the ability of any individuals to choose a faith practice a faith change their religion not have a religion or tell others about their religious beliefs and practices

The USCIRF report, which is sent to Congress as an official document, noted that blasphemy cases in Pakistan “remained a substantial threat to religious freedom, as did the sort of mob violence that has long accompanied such accusations

M R A N

It called on Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law, and until such repeal, enact reforms to make blasphemy a bailable offence

According to the report police in Pakistan at times killed physically abused or failed to protect members of religious minorities And courts continued to enforce blasphemy laws, punishment for which ranged up to the death penalty” The government however has never executed anyone for blasphemy the report added

Quoting reports by various civil society organisations USCIRF reported that at least 52 persons were accused of blasphemy or related religion-based criminal charges during 2022, the majority of whom were Ahmadis At least four individuals charged with blasphemy during previous years received death sentences in 2022 two Christians and

two Muslims

The report noted that individuals convicted and sentenced to death in well-publicised blasphemy cases dating as far back as 2014 including Nadeem James Taimoor Raza and Junaid Hafeez remained in prison awaiting action on their appeals

Ramzan Bibi remained free on bail while awaiting trial for blasphemy

In 2022 courts overturned some blasphemy convictions upon appeal and acquitted or granted bail to some individuals who had spent years in prison on blasphemy charges Those acquitted or released on bail include Qamar Aqash, Nadeem Samson, Stephen Masih Salamat, Mansha Masih, Mubasher Ahmad, Ghulam Ahmad, Ehsan Ahmad Asim Aslam and Mohammad Shahid Khan

Marriyum declares May 9 arson as ‘sedition & treason’

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Marriyym said it was not a political or public protest by any means rather it was an act of anti-nationalism and sedition which a handful of armed groups perpetrated at the behest of Imran Khan

While sitting in Zaman Park which had been turned into a “shelter home” for armed groups Imran Khan orchestrated the entire saga which was executed by the PTI goons who even burnt Pakistan s flag – symbol of the country s dignity and honour These people even set ablaze ambulances, hospitals, schools, mosques and animal markets, and this was by no means a political reaction ” she said adding there would be no concession for any person involved in arson attacks

She said it was the state s responsibility to protect not only those who were thrown out of ambulances, but also the school going children

Those who had damaged the civilian property would be dealt with according to civilian laws whereas trials of those who attacked military installations would be conducted as per the jurisdiction and relevant laws, the minister maintained

“The armed forces are the protectors of our borders ” Marriyum said adding those who attacked military installations and state property should be made an example

Protecting the state and establishing the writ of the state was not the sole responsibility of the government, but all three pillars would have to play their due

roles in that regard she remarked

She said Zaman Park had become a safe haven for the armed miscreants and the Punjab Government had provided all the evidence in that regard

The mastermind of May 9 incident was Imran Khan she reiterated while referring to a video message of PTI leader Murad Saeed who instructed the workers to reach the places they were told by, which was also posted on the official page of PTI when Imran Khan was arrested She asked who had shown the miscreants those places for arson attacks The PTI workers were asked to reach the GHQ and Corps Commander House in the video message, she added

The minister said Imran Khan himself released a video message from inside the Islamabad High Court saying that there would be more strong reaction from May 9 if anybody dared to arrest him

Marriyum said there was a clear instruction of Prime Minister Sherhbaz Sharif that no innocent person should be punished and a monitoring committee had been constituted in that regard but at the same time miscreants would have to face the music The police force had been working round the clock for the protection of the people but the PTI goons attacked them with petrol bombs and burnt their cars, she maintained

The minister also reminded that Imran had the habit of using dirty language for police Marriyum asked whether any installation hospital and metro bus or station

were set on fire by the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) workers when the three times prime minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the power on the basis of fake cases

“We are a political party we have always protested peacefully she said Imran Khan used state money to create false cases against Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and other political opponents, she said, while clarifying that the PTI chief registered the Al-Qadir Trust in the name of himself and his wife which was against the law On the occasion a video based on Imran Khan and other PTI leaders threatening statements to the media was also shown to the media

She said the May 9 arson attacks were beyond politics, and thanked the people, media and civil society for differentiating between the two things

Marriyum said it was an attack on the honour and identity of the country and a neighbouring country celebrated the incident She said there was now time that the masses should decide whether they wanted to become part of politics which revolved around “Fitna vandalism and arson” or part of politics which aimed at serving the people who were worried due to political instability that was aggravating the economic stability of the country

The minister wondered why Imran Khan, who ruined the economy, harmed diplomatic relations with friendly countries damaged social fabric and attacked on tolerance of society was untouchable

Still time, talk and be wise as polls only solution to crisis: Imran

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

He said that they wanted to attack Jinnah House as an excuse to ban PTI and put leaders behind bars

How did Radio Pakistan get burned? The protest was happening someplace else but Radio Pakistan gets burned down It is easy to identify faces these days with facial recognition You can use NADRA’s data and identify people but that can only happen through an independent investigation

Imran claimed to have defended the army worldwide, emphasising that criticising the army is akin to criticising his own children

He said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was over the moon due to the current situation as they think it will cause delay in elections PDM is doing what was done in East Pakistan, he claimed “They reached my residence on March 14 They attacked my house for 24 hours Did I say attack?” Khan stated APC [armoured personnel carrier] smashed gate of my house where my wife was alone Did I say anything? he continued, highlighting the dangers his family faced during the raid

Refuting any claims of instigating violence Khan stated When they tried to assassinate me did I order anyone to attack them? They arrested me as if I was a terrorist

The former prime minister expressed deep disappointment and frustration over what he termed unjust treatment he faced asserting his innocence in the face of the accusations

On Tuesday last week dozens of troops of paramilitary Rangers broke into an office of the IHC and whisked Imran away in an armoured vehicle in a whirlwind raid while executing the arrest warrant issued against the former premier by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the AlQadir Trust case Later, the Supreme Court termed his arrest as “invalid and unlawful” and referred the matter back to the IHC which had earlier accepted the arrest as legal

In an unprecedented show of vandalism, PTI supporters attacked and caused damage to the historic Corps’ Commander ’s House originally known as Jinnah House and which once served as the residence of the founding father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah hours after the National Ac-

countability Bureau (NAB) arrested

PTI chief Imran Khan Pictures and videos from the historic building showed that all the rooms, halls, drawing rooms, living rooms, walls, curtains, doors, wooden ceilings, and even the floor had been burnt by the protesters

The 130-year-old building of the Military Engineering Services a few furlongs away from Corps Commander House, was also set on fire, where valuable records, furniture, and vehicles were set ablaze

In the aftermath of widespread rioting and protests following Imran’s arrest several party leaders including Fawad Chaudhry Asad Umar Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Shireen Mazari, Maleeka Bukhari and Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, among others, were taken into custody Soon after the protests PTI leaders and workers landed in hot waters as not only they were arrested but country s civil and military leadership vowed to try those involved in ransacking the military installations under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act

The civil-military leadership has also decided to observe May 9 as Black Day at the national level

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

President Arif Alvi on Wednesday made a passionate appeal to all the stakeholders to negotiate a solution to the simmering imbroglio advising against labelling Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf as anti-Pakistan or traitor

The president, in his opinion piece published today, wrote in detail about the country’s chequered political history and his life experiences dating back to pre-partition India

President Alvi who is also the founding member of Imran Khan-led PTI has been making efforts to bring the stakeholders to the negotiating table to bring down the political temperature in the country

The opinion piece can be seen in the backdrop of calls for banning PTI due to its involvement in the May 09 vandalism of sensitive structures

The party is believed to be involved in planning, abetting, and ex-

ecuting protests targeting government and military installations in violent protests following Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case last week

The Pakistani military has also run out of patience and vowed to bring all those involved in the incident to justice through Pakistan Army Act, 1952 “Where do we go from here? I urge everybody to take a deep breath I will stick my neck out as I have learnt from experience and history both and state that no political party today has ever been anti-Pakistan or that it comprises of traitors, he wrote Alvi, however, made no mention of his party’s conduct in the wake of its chairman’s arrest nor did he condemn directly those who vandalised national monuments Excesses have been committed by all during our history, out of frustrations including during the MRD When all avenues are closed, anger in all its dimensions is the only route left which then colours the national

landscape into a lethal red ”

Terming the peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia as a testimony of great leadership Arif Alvi urged all Pakistani stakeholders to think again Can we find similar greatness in our leadership? he asked

I personally know there are many on all sides of the spectrum, including in the establishment but everyday events and hot exchanges between them for their perception into dangerous arguments even unrealistic questions are floated like, Are you with Pakistan or against Pakistan?’,” he noted “The first and last thing elders would say would be to cool down learn from the past and save the family Our friends who have a clear view from outside are urging us to Those nations achieve the greatness which learn from history Those who don’t, are forgettable dots in the sands of time I have been urging all that we desperately need to find a solution

She asked whether he deserved phrases like good to see you and wish you good luck in the courts

“This drama must comes to an end and we have to decide ” she added S h e s a i d t h e l a w w o u l d t a k e i t s c o u r s e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n w h e r e i n s u c h i n c i d e n t s t o o k p l a c e a n d trial would be conducted in accordance with the relevant laws

To a query, she said when Imran Khan was the PM, he claimed to stand by Pakistan’s manifesto but offered lifetime extension to the former army chief to prevent his ouster in the wake of no-confidence motion moved by the then opposition

She recalled all the saga of constitutional violations which were committed by Imran Khan just to save his government, including the dissolution of National Assembly and others

The minister said Imran Khan claimed that he dissolved the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwa on the advice of the former army chief and by harassing former Punjab chief minister Pervaz Elahi

She called Imran Khan’s demand for snap polls as a drama which she said must come to an end Imran Khan did not want election instead he was trying to save his skin in the Rs 60 billion corruption case

To another query, she said the government had decided that names of all those who had been arrested for arson and vandalism would be made public

Road to Makkah program to be extended to Lahore, Karachi airports next year: Sanaullah

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

It streamlines the entire immigration process ensuring that all necessary requirements fulfilled at the Islamabad Airport Pilgrims bypass long immigration saving time for their spiritual experience and they can complete immigration requirements in their home country and enter Saudi Arabia smoothly Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan thanked Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister Dr Nasir Bin Abdul Aziz AlDawood and his delegation over the visit He also thanked the visiting minister over the hospitality which he witnessed during the performing of Umra He said that the current visit of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister is of vital importance and both sides discussed matters of mutual interests and issues including the assassination of Saudi diplomat and Pakistanis languishing in Saudi jails for petty crimes He thanked the Saudi Minister for the commitment to look into the issue regarding the release those prisoners who have been in the jails for petty crimes

Arif Alvi stresses need for dialogue, says ‘no par ty is anti-Pakistan’

TH E country took a further step towards military courts for the violence committed on May 9 against military installations, including arson at the residence of the Corps Commander Lahore and the attack on GHQ Rawalpindi, not to mention the arson at PAF Mianwali, among others The Nation Security Committee met and endorsed the decisions of the special Corps Commanders meeting held the day before It was decided by both that trials of the accused would be carried out under the Army Act which meant that the guilty would not only face lengthy jail terms but would also receive trials by Summary Court Martial rather than by a civilian court Such trial would also be swifter but would not allow as much room for appeal

Military courts have not had an unchequered history when they were applied to civilians no matter how useful they have been internally in the military in maintaining its internal discipline The end of the moratorium on the death penalty and the moving of the trials of sectarian terrorists to military courts came after the horrible 2014 APS massacre but that did not lead to the elimination of the terrorists who are still active enough to be used as an ecue by the government as well as the Election Commission of Pakistan for not holding election to the KP and Punjab Assemblies Even before this experiences under martial law of military justice showed that it left much to be desired especially in its ignoring of the rights of the accused to due process of law

While those guilty of the outrages of May 9 certainly deserve to be punished the accused do not deserve to end up in the sort of limbo that might result if the superior courts stayed trials while examining their legality The military also should be careful that it does not like that superior judiciary fall in the trap of being labelled as proor anti- any particular political party Except when it has imposed martial law the military has not appeared to take action against members of a political party As all of those accused will turn out to be Pakistan Tehrik Insaf activists the optics are going to be awkward At root the problem seems to be that of a lack of trust in the ordinary courts in the justice system with its interminable delays and myriad ways of being sidestepped Instead of taking its case to the ordinary courts the military is apparently relying on its own justice system

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

A r r e s t w i t h o u t w a r r a n t s i n a

C o n s t i t u t i o n a l D e m o c r a c y ?

USA Why are we being robbed of our freedom? Why are the constitutional guarantees blatantly violated?

Recently Mr Justice Shahid Kareem of the Lahore High Court declared that the 1860 Law of Sedition enforced under Section 124 as unconstitutional The bold move by the Judge should have triggered a crusade of cleansing the constitution of the draconian colonial-era and Martial Law regulations and acts but so far no one seems concerned Now that arrests have started to intimidate dissent it is time to plan a counter offensive to restore the spirit of the original document passed unanimously by the genuinely elected representatives of the people in 1973 50 years ago

d r fa r i d a M a l i k

FR E E D O M and fundamental human rights are the cornerstone of every constitution in the civilized world When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took charge of what was left of the Quaid’s Pakistan he talked about the police brutalities faced by his party and self He even talked about the marks on his back of the brutal Lathi charge that he had had to endure As the chief architect of the 1973 unanimous constitution, he ensured inclusion of about 20 clauses covering fundamental human rights like freedom of speech, movement, confinement etc Article 25A declared literacy as a right of the citizen to be provided by the state The chain of arrests without warrants in the land of the pure clearly indicates serious cheating of the agreement between the rulers and the ruled In the 1990s there was a worldwide movement for quality An ISO 9000 based Quality Management System (QMS) was being implemented There were very few experts in the field Despite my technical workload I decided to use my practical experience in QMS Development for the benefit of the local industry My friend Dr Kamran Moosa and myself spearheaded the quality movement in the country

During this peak period, I was invited to speak at the Civil Services Academy located on Walton Road The Director General asked me an interesting question In his words; “ Dr Sahib almost all segments of the society are either non-performing or corrupt Why do you target the bureaucracy as the root cause of the problems faced by the nation? My reply was spontaneous: As you have the power of the pen and control the files and paperwork Has any bureaucrat ever tried to rationalize the system to introduce customer/service orientation?”

There was no answer Yes like the constitution guarantees human rights every QMS is built around customer satisfaction The Japanese were the first to adopt this approach after humiliation and defeat in WWII Within decades they were able to emerge as the second largest economy of the world after the

W h y e n e r g y i n s e c u r i t y ?

Politicians have too limited an attention-span

Shahid Shafi Sial

ON May 14 last year, I shared a picture of two former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif signing the historic Charter of Democracy in London in a WhatsApp group that primarily dealt with issues related to Electricity Markets The admin of the group who happened to be a covert PTI zealot got instantly infuriated and snubbed me by reiterating group policy which was supposedly not to share any political post and abide by the group rules Finding myself in an awkward position the only way left was to effectively dissociate from the group activities

And to this day the moratorium continues

But the question still remains Was I wrong in referring to the historic Charter of Democracy signed by the then most popular political leadership in a forum that was primarily created to discuss issues of energy?

In my humble opinion there is an inherent and inseparable correlation between a country s stable political system and the health of its energy security apparatus Political instability for an extended period of time leads to serious gaps in the conception, planning, recalibration, financial management time and cost estimates execution control and monitoring of key energy projects

Repeated bouts of political engineering drastically shrink space for real energy planners to undertake their primary task Can long term energy security plans be devised in a vacuum?

Political governments are always constrained by immense pressures of time and budget In the absence of broader political consensus on economic issues and energy policy and when no government is sure of its existence beyond a few months or at best a very few years, it is asking for the moon to expect political governments to do marvels 6n energy security

Extreme pressures of showing results within a few months or a couple of years or so and then going into the elections is indeed an aberration Invisible forces enjoying real power cause frequent changes in the statecraft and in turn render energy security planning at the whims of ever-changing rulers who always feel themselves at the pleasure of the establishment

There is always an established and well settled dictum that those individuals or institutions who wield real power must be held responsible and accountable for the ills of the country So is the case for energy security as well The professionals having capacity to plan have no power of decision making and those having power of decision making have no capacity to plan

Planning for energy security is a very serious business and cannot be held hostage to pressures of time One has to make allowance for politicians to be not immune from worldly and mundane expectations of retaining political power by venturing into undertaking such projects that, in the long run, fall in the category of

white elephants but in the shorter term reap political benefits by fetching a higher number of votes That indeed is a bad proposition but sadly it has happened in the post-2008 era when we saw no real and substantive efforts with regard to construction of long-term hydel power stations, thermal power plants based on indigenous fuels or plants based on renewable energy, and instead no stone was left unturned to harness projects having minimum construction period with no regard to the kind of fuel imported or indigenous its adverse linkages with foreign exchange and expected exorbitant capacity payments The politicians under extreme pressures

Political instability has taken a very heavy toll on our polity

The power sector is no exception Outright usurpation of decision making from true professionals in energy policy and subjecting it to the whims of par t-timer technocratscum-politicians having glaring conflict of interests have changed the complexion of our energy sector.

The colonial state continues to operate under the Government of India Act 1935 despite the enforcement of the Constitution in August 1973 A long time back I had an interesting experience while visiting my cousin in London We went to a pub where a dispute arose between my cousin and the cashier While we had tendered a £50 note the cashier insisted it was £5 To resolve the issue we went to a nearby Police Station

On our complaint, a constable accompanied us back to the pub When we reached there he stood outside and requested me to inform the cashier I remember his words; Without warrants I cannot enter a public place So the case was resolved outside as the constable had to follow the law of the land

T h e r i g h t a p p ro a c h i s t o

m a k e a l i s t o f a l l t h e

c o l o n i a l - e r a d r a c o n i a n

l aw s a n d h av e t h e m

ex p u n g e d by Pa r l i a m e n t .

A s t h e e n e my i s w i t h i n t h e

s o l u t i o n a l s o l i e s i n s i d e .

I n t e r n a l p ro b l e m s c a l l fo r

In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan the police can enter at will any time of the day Recently they were shown jumping over the gate of the house of PTI leader Jamshed Cheema while they were told that he was not at home only maids and minor children were in the house It looked like an invasion of enemy territory While Imran Khan was in court in Islamabad his house in Zaman Park came under attack Cranes were used to break open the main entrance of his dwelling Perhaps for the first time the affluent Zaman Park saw such a savage invasion Servants were rounded up The gardener in the house next door of Aitzaz Ahsan was also arrested My student, Barrister Hassan Niazi, who happens to be nephew of IK and a great activist was arrested in Islamabad, then taken to Quetta From there he landed in Karachi from where he was bailed out to appear in Naushera Our constables seem to be above

i n t e r n a l s o l u t i o n s , n o t ex t e r n a l .

the law of the land Several PTI leaders and workers are currently in police custody Ali Zaidi the President of PTI Sindh, was fighting to be bailed out and so was ex-minister Ali Amin Gandapur who has now been handed over to the Punjab Police for remand Both have since got bail According to inside information even the police seem apologetic as their arms are being twisted by the mighty and powerful Even they realize that major reforms are needed to restrict rampant abuse and excesses under ‘Police Gardi’ My late father Nazir Ahmed Malik strongly believed that It s a game of stamina Without resilience and fight back there can be no change Petitions are being filed in Human Rights Commissions all over the world to check the current human rights violations in the land of the pure The right approach is to make a list of all the colonialera draconian laws and have them expunged by Parliament As the enemy is within the solution also lies inside Internal problems call for internal solutions not external Yes, stamina is needed for this marathon that should have started long ago The system of governance and the constitution need a major clean-up for the presevation of human freedom Like the bobbies of Britian the thullas of Punjab have to be contained Arrest without warrants in the 21st century is barbaric which must be stopped The elected legislators have homework to do for which they need to build stamina which has been missing since the launch of Operation 1985’

The writer is ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Sheer brutalit y

T H E recent murder of a highly-qualified teacher is a slap in the face of society Who should be blamed for this tragedy?

I think the whole society should take the blame particularly the politicians Such murders are perpetrated by tribal chieftains who have vested interests in such feuds In the short term, there is a simple solution for this frustrating phenomenon; hold the chieftains responsible and punish them to the full extent of the law However, the feudal lords are apparently above the law and even an honest and bold police officer cannot touch them because of their hold in their area of influence

It is alleged that rank and file in the police in rural areas are more loyal to the respective chieftains than to their senior officers so much so that when they are asked to carry out a raid on certain tribal chief, they usually leak the information before conducting the raid They do this to keep themselves in the good books of the chieftain, because they know their officer is in the area only for a short period while the tribal chief and his progeny are there permanently They cannot afford to take them on as these chieftains have loyal criminal gangs who never hesitate in attacking police on the order of their chief In order to cut them to size these tribal chiefs should be dealt with by forces outside of their area, and be jailed far away in places out of reach of their domain of influence

of time simply gave in showing no maturity and character by exploiting “twenty hours of loadshedding and imminent economic disaster and undertook rental power plants and thermal power plants based on imported LNG and coal

The present precarious economic condition has an unintended silver lining for Pakistan’s ailing energy sector Now the power planners enjoy no more a carte blanche and their decisions are subject to strict scrutiny by all and sundry NEPRA has approved an Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) based on the least-cost principle Projects based on renewable energy have started getting due importance Of late, social media and ThinkTanks like PIDE have started debating and confronting decisions regarding energy issues

After having got astray for decades the dust has started settling down Political instability has taken a very heavy toll on our polity The power sector is no exception Outright usurpation of decision making from true professionals in energy policy and subjecting it to the whims of part-timer technocrats-cum-politicians having glaring conflict of interests have changed the complexion of our energy sector The only silver lining is that things are now no more the same

Much water has flown under the bridge It is now time for a switchover A political consensus will have to be evolved for a sustainable power sector The game of musical chairs must end now Frequent changes of guard cannot ensure a sustainable energy sector The sooner it is materialized, the better it will be for the state and the people of Pakistan

The writer is Chief Engineer in National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) and a member of the central council of The Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan (IEEEP) He tweets @ShahidShafi PK

The other blameworthy party in this case is the ruling political party in Sindh, which has never taken a principled stand on the issue It should condemn feudal lords and such acts of violence in uncertain terms However given the track record the party will not do that because they love the status quo as they are dependent on the captive voters of these chieftains Even when they were so popular that they did not need any feudal, they kept them in the loop for the simple reason that they themselves were not interested in the free will of the people

For example, in 1988, the party was so popular that they did not need feudal lords or other influential persons to win constituencies but they kept the status quo intact because I suspect they know well that once people would feel free from the shackles of these tribal elders their days may be numbered as well if they do not perform

However, the party is not the only one to be blamed; the biggest culprits are those who did not let democracy flourish in society No matter how shackled and afraid people may be, a continuation of the democratic process would have emboldened them to stand up to these brutal chieftains

Unfortunately due to derailment of the democratic process in Pakistan if one group of feudal lords is eliminated the other group takes its place in some new garb and even now cities are not immune to such malaise Society at large seems to be at the mercy of tribal chiefs and elders

SHAKEEL NIZAMANI CALGARY, CANADA

Learning from histor y

T H O S E who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it This phrase perfectly fits kachha areas adjoining all three provinces In history British Indian army officer Robert Sandeman was the first one who introduced a system of tumandari to gain complete peace over these areas

Although John Jacob was in favour of using force against these tribal looters, it was Sandeman who visited these areas and ensured that the heads of the respective tribes gained complete control over their tribesmen

Tribal chiefs were given monthly disbursements to keep peace in these areas vis-a-vis the British government Previously, these tribes were given the title ‘terror of the border ’

We should learn from history that these tribes (read: dacoits) cannot be controlled merely by combined operations unless tribal leaders are kept in check They are to be held responsible for any crime occurring in their respective territories or areas of influence One can either learn from history, or, in case of failure to do that, stand doomed

Though those guilt y of vandalism on May 9, militar y cour ts are not the answer

Should Bangladesh seek Myanmar’s ‘Rakhine

Buddhists’ suppor t in the Rohingya crisis?

have compelled hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya to flee their homes in the predominantly Buddhist country Most have crossed by land into Bangladesh while others have taken to the sea to reach Indonesia Malaysia and Thailand

United Nations has characterized as ethnic cleansing

WH E N Myanmar ’s Rakhine and Bangladesh edging closer day by day trying to resolve the Rohingya crisis through a Rohingya return pilot project’, there is another news of hope for the people of Myanmar and Bangladesh, specially the Rohingya The Bangladesh Consulate in Sitwest Rakhine Myanmar organized an exchange and prayer meeting with senior Buddhist monks and Buddhist religious leaders of various pagodas on May 4 At that time, the students of Sittwe University’s Rakhine and Muslim Students’ Union along with members of the consulate and their families were present at the event Along with discussions on Buddhist theology and Buddha s words prayers were offered for the country s people and communal harmony and peace in the region

Mission chief Zakir Ahmed gave chivara to senior Buddhist monks All present were entertained with lunch According to the Bangladesh Consulate the Bangladesh Consulate is in close contact with important religious leaders in order to maintain peace and communal harmony in Rakhine In continuation of this, this discussion and prayer meeting was organized with very influential Buddhist monks and Buddhist religious leaders

However discriminatory policies of Myanmar s government since the late 1970s

Beginning in 2017 renewed violence including reported rape, murder, and arson, triggered an exodus of Rohingya, as Myanmar ’s security forces claimed they were carrying out a campaign to reinstate stability in the country’s western region There was a mass Rohingya exodus to Bangladesh from Myanmar s Rakhine in 2017 The prolonged refugee crisis started then The reason for Rohingya s exclusion is the so-called political Buddhism in Myanmar Political Buddhism is when excluding Buddhism the Burmese ethnicity and aggressive nationalism are used to exclude and persecute minority groups perceived as non-Burman Political Buddhism was an important element in Rohingya s exclusion in Myanmar But Rohingya s persecution can somewhat be explained by the influence of political Buddhism However, that was not the complete story

For many popular images of Buddhism have often included those of monks in saffron-colored robes meditating peacefully on windswept mountains, revering all forms of life while seeking higher states of enlightenment

Often spurred on by Buddhist monks local mobs and government forces have reportedly burned hundreds of Rohingya villages to the ground in Myanmar s Rakhine state, slaughtering many of their Muslim inhabitants as hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh

Many of the country’s Buddhists are afraid their own faith is in jeopardy viewing the Rohingya Muslims as a threat The military as well as many monks have used this fear to stoke a Buddhist nationalism that combines religious and civic identities

In the context of such clichés, it has been jarring, many say, to see very different images coming out of Myanmar Many monks barefoot and clothed in the traditional robes of Burmese Buddhist monasteries have been at the forefront of the violent repression of the Rohingya Muslim minority, which the

Free contraceptives lead to substantial economic benefits

I m p rov i n g a cce s s to co nt ra ce p t i o n i s o n e o f t h e b e s t m e a n s o f i n c re a s i n g i t s u s e, t h e re by re d u c i n g t h e r i s k o f u n i nte n d e d p re g n a n c y

most effective and least user-dependent methods (i e IUD or implant)

By providing free contraception, the individual lifetime projected savings are up to $10,000

However, it is a very good initiative taken by Bangladesh and Myanmar in a sense that it is a trust building measure between Bangladesh and Myanmar utilizing public diplomacy The religious element will be crucial in resolving the conflict in Myanmar We don t have to get into the political issues but focus on bringing back peace The influential Buddhist community in Myanmar can take the initiative to settle political issues and restore democracy solving the Rohingya refugee crisis They can help dispel hatred of Burmese people towards Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar through social media activities, religious ceremonies, public ceremonies and so on

When the Rohingya could enter Rakhine state under the recently taken Rohingya return pilot project a glimpse of hope emerged that the precarious situation for Rohingya could be resolved Obviously, a tremendous amount of work remains in integrating Rohingya into Burmese society Clearly, the infected conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar will not end if the divisive climate of political Buddhism persists

The Buddhist community must play a role in this regard

It is true that even the Myanmar Junta has deep and stable respect for the Buddhist monks in Myanmar Using this opportunity, Buddhist monks must play a role in promoting communal peace in Myanmar for ensuring greater interreligious peace and harmony Rakhine s Buddhist society can play an effective role in this regard The relations of Buddhists between Myanmar and Bangladesh are well established Burmese Buddhists can do it very easily Buddhism is more related to the establishment of peace and non-violence Buddhists can play a significant role in this regard They can exercise the path shown by the founder of Buddhism Gautama Buddha Buddhists will be recognized as the Avatar of human rights if the Buddhist community plays a role in solving the Rohingya crisis It will ensure the regional to some extent world peace and communal harmony

The jarring images coming out of Myanmar, too, seem ironic, since Buddhist monks

have been one of the primary forces of democratic change In 2007, many helped lead what is now known as the “Saffron Revolution ” a movement of mostly nonviolent protests against Myanmar ’s long-standing military dictatorship

Nearly a decade later their efforts helped Aung San Suu Kyi, the dissident who spent years under house arrest and who won the Nobel Prize in 1991, to become the country’s first democratically-elected leader in 2016

The Rohingya crisis is a complex issue involving a range of political economic and social factors

While Buddhism is the dominant religion in Myanmar, it is important to note that the Rohingya crisis is not a religious conflict, but rather a humanitarian crisis

But it is true that Buddhists form a majority in Myanmar and that they are supposed to practice self-restraint against taking any lives if they truly follow the philosophy of Buddhism

However, Buddhism can play a significant role in finding a solution to the crisis by promoting peace, compassion, and understanding One of the core teachings of Buddhism is the concept of non-harm and compassion towards all sentient beings in-

cluding those who may be perceived as enemies or different Buddhist leaders and organizations can use their influence to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different communities and to advocate for the rights of the Rohingya people Buddhist teachings can also be used to promote mindfulness and awareness of the suffering of others, which can help to foster a more empathetic and compassionate response to the crisis

In addition Buddhist organizations can provide support to Rohingya refugees including food shelter and healthcare They can also work to promote education and economic opportunities for refugees and displaced persons, which can help to build resilience and self-sufficiency

Overall while Buddhism alone cannot solve the Rohingya crisis it can play a positive role in promoting peace compassion and understanding and in providing support and aid to those who have been affected by the crisis If the Rohingyas are repatriated finally in Rakhine under the pilot project, the Buddhist monks must play their responsible due role

The writer is a freelance columnist

W h a t i s t h e p o l i t i c a l a g e n d a o f a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e ?

Co u l d A I s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y d e c i d e t h e c o u r s e o f o u r h i s t o r y ? O r w i l l i t e n d u p a s y e t a n o t h e r t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n v e n t i o n t h a t b e n e f i t s a c e r t a i n s u b s e t o f h u m a n s ?

nological devices and systems our political social and cultural agendas are also built into AI technologies As philosopher Donna Haraway explained, Technology is not neutral We re inside of what we make, and it s inside of us

moral beliefs or the ability to make moral judgments so I cannot be considered immoral or moral the chatbot told them My lack of moral beliefs is simply a result of my nature as a machine learning model Where have we heard of this position before?

ON April 1, British Columbia announced a new policy to provide free prescription contraception for all residents Discussions surrounding Alberta s stance have followed While B C is the first Canadian province to adopt free contraception, it is not the first globally More than 25 countries worldwide including the United Kingdom New Zealand and Australia have offered subsidized or free contraception since as far back as 1967 As resident physicians in obstetrics and gynaecology, we know that universal access to contraception not only benefits patients but also has substantial economic benefits

Furthermore, this policy would also promote equality by eliminating the financial burden that disproportionately falls on women

Additionally many contraceptive options offer more than just pregnancy prevention but are also some of the most effective treatments for many gynaecologic conditions

When adequately treated patients experience improvement in their quality of life treatment for chronic conditions (endometriosis, cyclic pain syndromes, chronic anaemia) and risk reduction for various types of cancer (ovarian and endometrial) This translates into fewer days of missed work improved productivity and less reliance on more invasive and expensive treatments such as surgery Treatment of these conditions therefore not only improves medical outcomes but also offers economic benefits for the patient their families and society

As resident doctors in gynaecology, we carry the stories of our patients

a l a a n d C l au d o g a l l o

T“H E hand mill gives you society with the feudal lord; the steam mill society with the industrial capitalist, Karl Marx once said And he was right We have seen over and over again throughout history how technological inventions determine the dominant mode of production and with it the type of political authority present in a society

So what will artificial intelligence give us? Who will capitalise on this new technology, which is not only becoming a dominant productive force in our societies (just like the hand mill and the steam mill once were) but as we keep reading in the news also appears to be fast escaping our control ?

Could AI take on a life of its own like so many seem to believe it will, and single-handedly decide the course of our history? Or will it end up as yet another technological invention that serves a particular agenda and benefits a certain subset of humans?

Before we further explain why we are not scared of a so-called AI takeover we must define and explain what AI – as what we are dealing with now – actually is This is a challenging task not only because of the complexity of the product at hand but also because of the media s mythologisation of AI What is being insistently communicated to t h e p u b l i c t o d a y i s t h a t t h e c o n s c i o u s m a c h i n e i s ( a l m o s t ) h e r e t h a t o u r e v e r y d a y w o r l d w i l l s o o n r e s e m b l e t h e o n e s d e p i c t e d i n m o v i e s l i k e 2 0 0 1 : A S p a c e O d y s s e y B l a d e R u n n e r a n d T h e M a t r i x

This is a false narrative While we are undoubtedly building ever more capable computers and calculators, there is no indication that we have created – or are anywhere close to creating – a digital mind that can actually “think”

Noam Chomsky recently argued (alongside I a n R o b e r t s a n d J e ff r e y Wa t u m u l l ) i n a N e w York Times article that we know from the science of linguistics and the philosophy of knowled g e th at [ mach in e lear n in g p r o g r ammes lik e ChatGPT] differ profoundly from how humans reason and use language” Despite its amazingly convincing answers t o a v a r i e t y o f q u e s t i o n s f r o m h u m a n s C h a t -

Is it not eerily similar to the ethically neutral vision of hardcore liberalism?

Liberalism aspires to confine in the private i n d i v i d u a l s p h e r e a l l r e l i g i o u s c i v i l a n d p o l i ti c a l v a l u e s t h a t p r o v e d s o d a n g e r o u s a n d d es t r u c t i v e i n t h e 1 6 t h a n d 1 7 t h c e n t u r i e s I t w a n t s a l l a s p e c t s o f s o c i e t y t o b e r e g u l a t e d b y a p a r t i c u l a r – a n d i n a w a y m y s t e r i o u s – f o r m o f r a t i o n a l i t y : t h e m a r k e t AI appears to be promoting the very same brand of mysterious rationality The truth is it is emerging as the next global big business innovation that will steal jobs from humans –making labourers, doctors, barristers, journalists and many others redundant The new bots’ moral values are identical to the market’s It is difficult to imagine all the possible developments now but a scary scenario is emerging

in Canada is upwards of $320 million

Improving access to contraception is one of the best means of increasing its use, thereby reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy

Comparatively a recent news article quoted a cost of only $30 million in health-care dollars to make contraception free for all Alberta residents, representing less than 0 05 per cent of Alberta s overall health-care budget

On an individual level it is well known that not all forms of contraception are equivalent The most effective forms of contraception are often the most initially cost-prohibitive for patients ($300 to $500 for an intrauterine device, or IUD), even if that results in longer-term savings Cost is a major barrier to contraception and when barriers of cost access and knowledge are removed people often no longer choose the cheapest options but instead choose the

We strongly believe in these life-changing therapies as we have seen the tremendous impact of untreated gynaecological conditions and unplanned pregnancies on our patients lives We believe it is our responsibility to advocate for universal access to all forms of contraception so that our patients can choose whichever method is best for them Cost should not be a barrier to any medical treatment

We have witnessed the role that safe and effective contraception can play in patients lives and are hopeful for the day when all Albertans have equal access We believe that access to universal contraception is not only a reproductive right but a basic human right

We urge Albertans to voice their support for free prescription contraception; we commend the NDP for their commitment to providing free contraception to all residents of Alberta; and we call on the UCP to make the same commitment Drs Danielle Chang Carmen

Recently examples of hyperrealistic AIgenerated content such as an interview with former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, who has not been able to talk to the press since a devastating ski accident in 2013; “photographs” showing former President Donald Trump being arrested in New York; and seemingly authentic student essays written by OpenAI s famous chatbot ChatGPT have raised serious concerns among intellectuals politicians and academics about the dangers this new technology may pose to our societies

In March, such concerns led Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak AI heavyweight Yoshua Bengio and Tesla/Twitter CEO Elon Musk among many others to sign an open letter accusing AI labs of being locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control” and calling on AI developers to pause their work More recently Geoffrey Hinton – known as one of the three godfathers of AI quit Google to speak freely about the dangers of AI and said he at least in part regrets his contributions to the field

We accept that AI – like all era-defining technology – comes with considerable downsides and dangers but contrary to Wozniak Bengio Hinton and others we do not believe that it could determine the course of history on its own without any input or guidance from humanity

We do not share such concerns because we know that, just like it is the case with all our other tech-

GPT is a lumbering statistical engine for pattern matching, gorging on hundreds of terabytes of data and extrapolating the most likely conversational response or most probable answer to a scientific question” M i m i c k i n g G e r m a n p h i l o s o p h e r M a r t i n H eidegger (and ris king reigniting the age-old b a t t l e b e t w e e n c o n t i n e n t a l a n d a n a l y t i c a l philosophers), we might say, AI doesn t think

It simply calculates Federico Faggin, the inventor of the first commercial microprocessor the mythical Intel 4004 explained this clearly in his 2022 book Irriducibile (Irreducible): There is a clear distinction between symbolic machine knowledge and human semantic knowledge The former is objective information that can be copied and shared; the latter is a subjective and private experience that occurs in the intimacy of the conscious being ”

Interpreting the latest theories of Quantum

Physics Faggin appears to have produced a philosophical conclusion that fits curiously well within ancient Neoplatonism – a feat that may ensure that he is forever considered a heretic in scientific circles despite his incredible achievements as an inventor But what does all this mean for our future?

If our super-intelligent Centaur Chiron cannot actually think (and therefore emerge as an independent force that can determine the course of human history), exactly who will it benefit and give political authority to? In other words, what values will its decisions rely on?

David Krueger assistant professor in machine learning at the University of Cambridge, commented recently in New Scientist: Essentially every AI researcher (myself included) has received funding from big tech At some point, society may stop believing reassurances from people with such strong conflicts of interest and conclude as I have that their dismissal [of warnings about AI] betrays wishful thinking rather than good counterarguments

If society stands up to AI and its promoters, it could prove Marx wrong and prevent the leading technological development of the current era from determining who holds political authority

But for now AI appears to be here to stay

And its political agenda is fully synchronised with that of free market capitalism, the principal (undeclared) goal and purpose of which is to tear apart any form of social solidarity and community

The danger of AI is not that it is an impossible-to-control digital intelligence that could destroy our sense of self and truth through the f a k e i m a g e s e s s a y s n e w s a n d h i s t o r i e s i t g e n e r a t e s T h e d a n g e r i s t h a t t h i s u n d e n i a b l y monumental invention appears to be basing all its decisions and actions on the same destructive and dangerous values that drive predatory capitalism

Santiago Zabala is ICREA Research

Professor of Philosophy at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona His latest books are Being at Large Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts (2020) and Outspoken: A Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century ’ with Adrian Parr (2023) His webpage is www santiagozabala com

Claudio Gallo is a former La Stampa foreign desk editor and London correspondent He previously wrote for AsiaTimes, Enduring America and RT com His main interests are Middle East politics and Western philosophy

dr arPita haZarika

N E W V O D A F O N E B O S S TA K E S A I M AT C O S T S

W I T H 1 1

0 0 0 G LO B A L J O B C U T S

,

NE W Vodafone (VOD L) boss

Margherita

Della Valle said she would cut 11,000 jobs globally over three years to help the telecoms group regain its competitive edge after it warned that a poor performance in its biggest market Germany would hit cash flow

Shares in Vodafone, which has underperformed rivals in its major European markets, fell to their lowest level since 2002, and were trading down 9% by mid-after-

noon

The job cuts are the biggest in the history of Vodafone, which employs 90,000 people directly across Europe and Africa

Della Valle was tasked with turning

Vodafone around when she permanently took on the top job from the role of CFO last month

Three major shareholders could all benefit from a break up of the group

“To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change,” she said “My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth ”

Della Valle targeted Vodafone’s central operations when she took the helm at the start of the year, with 500 job cuts In Germany 1,300 roles will be lost, the company said in March, while 1,000 are being shed in Italy The additional cuts announced on Tuesday will be spread across its European markets, as well as more reductions in the centre, she told reporters Germany, Vodafone’s biggest market, was underperforming, Della Valle said, while “structural change”, meaning a full or partial sale, was an option in Spain Tuesday’s share price fall was probably

due to its forecast of 3 3 billion euros ($3 6 billion) of cash flow this financial year, down from 4 8 billion euros in the year to end-March 2023, she said Analysts had expected 3 6 billion euros

The CEO put the lower forecast down to the timing of payments for cable TV in Germany due to a change in the law

One large institutional investor said there remained material portfolio value within Vodafone which the results did not substantially change he dividend remained well covered, the investor told Reuters, but there was perhaps greater pressure to realise some of the potential steps to unlock the group’s value

A woman holds a phone as she passes a Vodafone store in London Vodafone’s dividend was a matter for the board, Della Valle said, but pointed to a “significant” cut in debt and said the group

was comfortable with its leverage

The yield exceeded 10% on Tuesday

“The new CEO has decided to maintain its dividend (a missed opportunity in our view and a concern the company remains unwilling to take necessary bolder action),”

analysts at JP Morgan Cazenove said LAGGING RIVALS

Vodafone reported a 1 3% decline in group core earnings to 14 7 billion euros for the year, missing its own guidance

Della Valle said the European telecoms market had long delivered a poor return on the capital invested in networks, but Vodafone’s relative performance had worsened over time Activist investors and rivals have also described the British group as unwieldy and slow to respond to market changes Emirati telecoms firm Etisalat (EAND AD) has built up a 14 6% stake and French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel,

UBS flags $17 billion hit from C redit S uisse takeover

PR OFIT R E U T E R S UBS Group AG (UBSG S) expects a financial hit of about $17 billion from the takeover of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN S) the bank said in a presentation early on Wednesday as it prepares to complete the rescue of its struggling Swiss rival UBS estimates a negative impact of $13 billion from fair value adjustments of the combined group s assets and liabilities UBS also sees $4 billion in potential litigation and regulatory costs stemming from outflows the bank said UBS however also estimated it would book a one-off gain stemming from the socalled negative goodwill of $34 8 billion by buying Credit Suisse for a fraction of its book value

Musk says will tweet thoughts regardless of business blowback

The financial cushion will help absorb potential losses and could result in a boost to the lender s second-quarter profit if UBS closes the transaction next month as planned UBS said the estimates were preliminary and the numbers could change materially later on The bank also said it might book restructuring provisions after that but offered no numbers Analysts at Jefferies had estimated restructuring costs litigation provisions and the planned winding down of the non-core unit could total $28 billion Meanwhile UBS has implemented a number of restrictions on Credit Suisse while the takeover is underway In certain cases Credit Suisse cannot grant a new credit facility or credit line ex-

ceeding 100 million Swiss francs ($113 million) to investment grade borrowers or more than 50 million francs to non-investment

who competes with it in Italy, and Liberty Global, its partner in the Netherlands are also investors Analysts have said all three are positioned for any sale of Vodafone’s operations

Setting out her roadmap, Della Valle said she would maximise the potential of business customers, a long-standing Vodafone strength, while focusing on the basics, such as customer service, for consumers

Della Valle’s predecessor Nick Read, who stepped down in December amid investor frustration, had said consolidation was needed in major markets like Britain, where Vodafone has been in talks with rival Hutchison’s Three UK for at least nine months Vodafone said on Tuesday there could be no certainty that any transaction would ultimately be agreed “It will take as long as it takes to get a good deal,” Della Valle told reporters

investment bank to report substantial pre-tax losses in the second quarter and the whole of this year

Following the legal closing of the transaction, UBS Group AG plans to manage two separate parent companies – UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG, UBS said last week It has said the integration process could take three to four years

During that time, each institution will continue to have its own subsidiaries and branches, serve its clients and deal with counterparties

years of scandals and losses It said it expected both the Credit Suisse group and its

C hina- Central A sia S ummit to witness trade, investment, connec tivity agreements

With the China-Central Asia Summit drawing closer Xi an has demonstrated its hospitality in full swing to welcome visiting guests from Central Asian countries and deep friendship between China and the five countries Chinese officials said leaders of the six countries will exchange views on establishing mechanisms cooperation and international regional issues with respective concerns as well as signing a slew of important political documents on trade investment connectivity and other areas

Experts believe China s cooperation with Central Asian countries based on win-win results and mutual respect can be seen as a paragon of international relationship in the new era Unlike the US engaging with Central Asia to pursue selfish purposes China s collaboration with regional countries do not target any third party nor aim to compete with others they said National flags of China and five Central Asian countries were planted alongside airport highway in intervals and banners saying build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future in both Chinese and Russian can be seen at overpasses in the city

The summit is the first major diplomatic activity that China hosts this year and also the first summit held offline by

the heads of state of the six countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties 31 years ago The event is a historic milestone in the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping President KassymJomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will pay state visits to China respectively from Tuesday to Saturday this week

Yu Jun deputy director-general of the Chinese foreign ministry s Department of European-Central Asian Affairs said at a Tuesday press briefing that Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the summit expounding on China s stance on how to construct China-Central Asia community with a shared future eyeing long-term development for cooperation between the six countries putting forward series of propositions and announcing multiple pragmatic measures and actions

CORPORATE CORNER

BUC 3rd Intl Conference on communication, computing and digital systems

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Bahria School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

(BSEAS) organized a two-day 3rd International Conference on Communication Computing and Digital Systems (C-CODE 23) at Bahria University Islamabad Pro- Chancellor BU/ Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI(M), S Bt graced the inaugural session of the conference as the Chief Guest During his address to the Conference the Chief Guest emphasized on the significance of the conference as awareness towards a secure cyber world He also highlighted the importance of digital communication high-end computing information security and artificial intelligence in the future of technology While highlighting significance of the event, he said that this International Conference has provided a unique platform to researchers academics Industry professionals and students to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in communication computing and digital systems Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed also attended the conference as a Guest of Honour Various keynote speakers including Dr Enrique Nava Baro, University of Malaga, Spain, Dr Muhammad Imran from the University of South Wales the United Kingdom and Prof Dr Elvira Popescu University of Craiova Romania also shed light on the importance of providing students with a broad perspective of the world Distinguished speakers from the UK, China, Romania, Spain and Pakistan participated in the conference They shared their research and expertise on various topics including cyber security artificial Intelligence and digital signal processing Prof Dr Atif Raza Jafri Dean Faculty of Engineering and Sciences emphasized that BU immensely focuses on promoting a research culture in the country and ensures its commitment to a knowledge-based economy Rector Bahria University, Vice Admiral (R) Asif Khaliq HI (M) laid stress on the importance of global citizenship and cyber security He also expressed his gratitude to the Chief of the Naval Staff for his presence in the Ceremony as Chief Guest The International Conference was attended by renowned scholars, national and international keynote speakers, senior management, Deans, HODS and faculty of Bahria University

Consumers protection from electrical accidents most impor tant responsibilit y: IESCO CEO

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Human life is a beautiful gift from Allah and its protection is the protection of humanity Chief Executive IESCO Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan has said that the first responsibility of the IESCO management is to take the best measures to protect its esteemed customers and its line staff from electrical accidents In this regard the electricity wires passing near the houses are relocating to safer locations at IESCO s expense According to the latest details 10 000 points were identified by the field formations and consumers on which 8793 points have been secured by taking immediate and timely action and the expenses of more than 1573 million incurred on them were borne by the IESCO administration itself and proved that IESCO is a customer friendly organization All these operations are being directly supervised by Chief Engineer Operation Muhammad Aslam Khan Consumers should report wires passing near or over their houses, weak and crooked transformers to the concerned SDO office so that timely action can be taken to protect the electrical points that may cause danger to human life

PA K I S TA N D E C I D E S T O S U S P E N D O N L I N E

C R Y P T O C U R R E N C Y S E R V I C E S

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

TH E federal government has decided to ban cryptocurrency services available online in Pakistan, citing the potential risks for the country following its removal from the Financial Action Task Force s grey list

During a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Minister of State for Finance

Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that the government will never legalize cryptocurrency in Pakistan

“State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the IT Ministry have started working on banning cryptocurrencies she said adding that FATF has also imposed conditions and cryptocurrencies will not be allowed During the session, Senator Farooq Naek also concurred, highlighting that crypto trading was speculative in nature and should not be allowed

Billions of dollars of Pakistan have been invested in cryptocurrency Senator Salim Mandviwala told the meeting Addressing the concerns, SBP officials also said that cryptocurrency is a total fraud which will never be recognized in Pakistan

C hinese language, cooking competitions held to strengthen S ino -Pak friendship

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

To further strengthen the China-Pakistan friendship and understand Chinese culture, the China Study Centre (CSC) in collaboration with the International Office, Institute of Professional Development (IPD) at Karakoram International University (KIU) held Chinese Language and Chinese cooking competitions among the students

Two events regarding the International Chinese Language Day and Chinese Cuisine were held in the KIU convocation area

According to Gwadar Pro, a large number of students and senior administrative and teaching officers of the university participated in the ceremony Chinese language writing competitions were also held for the faculty and students in the event organized in connection with International Chinese Language Day

The culture and lifestyle of Gilgit Baltistan and

China have similarity and we need to further understand each other s language and culture said ViceChancellor KIU Dr Attaullah Shah on this occasion a d d i n g t h a t f u r t h e r c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o b r o t h e r l y c o u n t r i e s i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n a n d r esearch is needed In the second event, cooking competitions were held among the students cooking dumplings that are equally popular in China and Gilgit Baltistan In GB dumplings are called Mantou As food is an integral part of the culture a Chin e s e c o o k i n g c o m p e t i t i o n w a s h e l d a m o n g t h e s t udents, CSC s Dr Khalid Mahmood told Gwadar Pro He said the taste of GB’s mantou bears a stark resemblance to Chinese dumplings which are being served at different festivals At the end of the events certificates were distributed to students who performed well in language and cooking competitions

MCB Bank launches ATM upgrade projec t

the evolving needs of its customers

Careem launches mass-commute ser vice; helping businesses in Pakistan save up to 40% on corporate travel

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

Careem the pioneer of ride-hailing services in Pakistan introduces mass-commute services for corporate clients across all major cities in Pakistan as part of Careem for Business (C4B) In light of the sharp rise in inflation, Careem’s mass-commute service helps make corporate travel more affordable for companies and businesses enabling them to save up to 40% cost The mass-commute service differs from the car-pooling service Careem introduced in 2022 as it allows up to 22 people to share a full-sized vehicle for their daily commute The service consists of all types/size of vehicles including Hiaces, Coasters Hijets and is ideal for companies that offer transportation services for their employees daily commute as well as companies that arrange corporate events both inside and outside the city

MCB Bank Limited (MCB) one of Pakistan s leading banks has launched a technology upgrade of its existing ATM network, with over 1,000 state-of-the-art ATMs to be installed across 500 cities nationwide

The upgrade is part of MCB Bank’s commitment to providing innovative and secure financial services to its customers

The new ATMs are equipped with advanced features making transactions faster, more secure, and easier than ever before The Bank celebrated the commencement of the project with an inauguration ceremony held at the MCB Bank principal office President & CEO MCB Bank, Mr Shoaib Mumtaz formally

launched the project of ATM upgradation by cutting a ribbon The event was attended by Chief Digital Officer, Mr Shahzad Ishaq, Chief Financial Officer, Mr Hammad Khalid, CEO Innovative Pakistan, Mr Naveed Ali Baig CEO Touch Point Mr Tabish Sabah and other senior representatives from MCB Bank Innovative Pakistan and Touch Point On the occasion, Mr Shoaib Mumtaz emphasized MCB Bank's unwavering commitment to meeting

"Our customers satisfaction is at the core of everything we do, and this technology upgrade reflects our commitment to providing them with the best experience We believe that this modern ATM upgrade will not only improve customer experience but also drive operational efficiencies and enhance security” said Mr Mumtaz MCB Bank is one of the largest & most innovative banks in Pakistan The Bank operates a strong and vast network of over 1 400 branches and over 1 450 ATMs in Pakistan and 11 overseas branches With a customer base of over 8 million, MCB leads the banking & financial services sector in Pakistan and customers across the globe have 24/7 access to MCB Bank via our innovative and accessible Digital Banking Services

Exchange rate volatilit y affects GTR’s profits

KARACHI

S TA F F R E P O R T

Turi arrives in Tashkent

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development Mr Sajid Hussain Turi has arrived in Tashkent on the invitation of Mr Bekhzod Musaev, minister for employment and poverty reduction, Uzbekistan to attend the international conference " Uzbekistan's poverty reduction experience: assessing and implementing in developing countries"

He is accompanied by Zulfiqar Ahmad secretary workers welfare fund Officials from the Uzbekistan foreign ministry and Pakistan high commission welcomed the participants This visit carries special significance in respect of poverty reduction in developing countries like Pakistan The forum is organized by the Center for Economic Research & Reforms CERR with the support of UNDP & UNICEF More than 200 participants are expected to take part

The participants will review the methods & results of Uzbekistan s achievements in the implementation of measures to combat poverty

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan and Zurich/Switzerland – May 16 2023 – EFU

Life Assurance Ltd Pakistan s leading private life insurance Company has partnered with dacadoo a Switzerland based Company and one of the world s leading healthtechs and insurtechs to launch its digital health and wellness program

EFU Life's selection of dacadoo was the result of a rigorous evaluation process of several global digital health and wellness technology providers dacadoo ranked highly on user-friendly design secure handling of sensitive data, and its ability to scale its solution to meet changing user needs A combination of these factors further validated the trust many global insurers have placed in dacadoo and made it a clear choice for EFU Life dacadoo specializes in supporting the digital transformation of its customers including EFU Life through digital health engagement platforms and its technology is built on over 300 million person-years of scientific data dacadoo has partnered with large life and health insurance carriers all across the world and is driving the digital revolution in the health and wellness industry The award-winning technology platform aggregates princi-

ples from seven different areas, including measuring physical and mental health, resulting in an overall health score dacadoo's platform is backed by stringent security measures to protect personal and health data Mr Taher G Sachak MD & CEO EFU Life speaki n g o n t h e o c c a s i o n s a i d We a r e p l e a s e d t o h a v e found a strong technology partner in dacadoo for our Wellness Program Pakistan s 230 million population with 60% under 30 years, presents a significant opportunity for us in the health and wellness space By levera g i n g d a c a d o o s e x p e r t i s e i n t h e s e a r e a s w e a r e confident of delivering an exceptional experience to our customers and help them achieve not only their financial goals but also improve their quality of life in t h e i r w e l l n e s s j o u r n e y, e n s u r i n g t h e i r p h y s i c a l a n d mental well-being Peter Ohnemus, President and CEO of dacadoo added: “We are delighted to enter this partnership with EFU Life our first client in Pakistan and we’re proud to provide our technology to work around the clock to make their digital health engagement platform a success among clients In close collaboration with EFU Life, we are introducing exciting new features in our core platform that will enhance the wellness experience of clients We look forward to a great continuation of this successful partnership ”

Managing Director Hussain Kuli Khan said that GTR incurred losses in the last quarter due to factors which were beyond their control “The main issue affecting the local tyre industry and specifically GTR is the restriction on opening Letter of Credits This caused a shortage of raw materials forcing the plant to operate below capacity, we even shut down for two weeks in April, and as a result our fixed overhead cost was not fully absorbed It is to be noted that GTR has high local value addition to their products thus saving precious foreign exchange said Hussain Besides this the severe volatility in exchange rate badly affected profitability and the company incurred exchange loss of Rs 331 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2023 “Another issue that hurt the company’s finances was a heavy flood of smuggled tyres into Pakistan said Hussain He added that most of the smuggled tyres are passenger car radial tyres openly available in the market, which not only hurt the local tyre industry but deprive the government of revenue It can be easily curbed as it have been done before Moreover he added that plant closures and lower production from car manufacturers in the country due to the same LC restrictions also dented our numbers But we have pivoted to increase sales to the after market and export markets Compared to last year ended March 31 the exports have significantly increased He further added that GTR has been saving forex for the country by exporting high quality standard tyres He added that these issues were inherent in making the GTR incur losses, but we believe this is a temporary phase as the GTR will be able to regain profits in the next quarter as the raw materials supply is improving with banks opening more LC s GTR has a capability to meet the market demand if the supply side issues are taken care of said Hussain

PepsiCo WWF – Pakistan construc t ground recharge wells to replenish aquifer for Hattar Community

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

PepsiCo Pakistan has successfully completed an inclusive Water Replenishment Project for community access to clean water in partnership with WWF - Pakistan in Hattar, District Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under this multi-stakeholder project the company has constructed four groundwater recharge wells with University of Haripur and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila

The project s total recharging capacity is 8,400 m3 and it galvanizes PepsiCo Pakistan’s goal to empower communities with replenishment and sustainable use of water resources

The project comes under the PepsiCo Positive (pep+) sustainability agenda of PepsiCo Pakistan, which includes water conservation and doing

good for people and the planet This knowledge exchange initiative provides a robust mechanism and roadmap to empower the students at the University of Haripur and UET Taxila so they can continue working on sustainable water use solutions for their community

The students have actively taken part in implementation phase of the project with experts from WWF - Pakistan It has also brought the community at large together as beneficiaries since it will supply access to clean and safe water to community members To mark this achievement Yaser Ghani, VP Ops PepsiCo Global Concentrate Solutions (PGCS), Professor Dr Muhammad Inayatullah Khan Babar Vice Chancellor of UET Taxila and Head of the Environmental Engineering Department of UET Taxila came together with the faculty members,

PGCS Hattar management, WWF team and the students to celebrate this achievement for reviving the local aquifer for the entire community

Speaking at the occasion Yaser Ghani said This project represents a significant milestone towards PepsiCo s Net Water Positive Vision, which aims to replenish more water than we consume by 2030 But this project is more than just a milestone

It is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and we could not have accomplished it without the support of our partners and stakeholders who are united for tangible change and community uplift And we hope that this project will inspire others to take action towards a more sustainable world Yaser Ghani also engaged with university students inspiring and igniting their passion for water conservation

He encouraged them to embark on innovative projects aimed at saving water and achieving sustainability goals The concentrate for PepsiCo’s products is made at the Hattar operations site and the company is committed to doing good for the communities settled around the operations PepsiCo is committed to continuing efforts to reduce the company’s water footprint, conserve resources and drive positive impact in the communities that PepsiCo works with and in Prof Dr Muhammad Inayatullah Khan Babar added, By replenishing groundwater, we are helping to ensure a sustainable supply of water for years to come This project is not just about saving water; it's about creating a better future for all of us We are excited about the possibilities of this project and the impact it will have on the community

EFU Life par tners with Swiss tech company ‘dac adoo’

C O A S V O W S N O T T O L ET M AY 9

I N C I D E N T S C O M E ‘ A G A I N AT A N Y C O S T ’

g S a y s n o o n e w i l l b e a l l o w e d t o d i s r e s p e c t o u r s h u h a d a , t h e i r m o n u m e n t s

CH I E F of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir Wednesday vowed that the armed forces would not allow May 9 incidents to come to pass “again at any cost”

“No one will be allowed to disrespect our shuhada [martyrs] and their monuments the army chief said during his visit to the martyrs monument where he paid rich tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the pride, honour, and dignity of the nation

The army chief said the martyrs and the monuments are a source of inspiration and pride for the rank and file of the armed forces law enforcement agencies government officials, and the people

The army chief underscored that re-

cently planned and “orchestrated tragic incidents would never be allowed again at any cost

The COAS reassured the ranks and files that all those responsible for bringing shame to the nation on Black Day of May 9 would certainly be brought to jus-

g S t r e s s e d p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , p r e p a r e d n e s s t o d e a l w i t h c o m p l e x i n t e r n a l , e x t e r n a l c h a l l e n g e s

esteem and continue to honour them and their supreme sacrifices with utmost respect and dignity

The army chief also appreciated under-command formations for their hard work, devotion, high morale and professionalism

Cheap petrol scheme delayed until IMF concerns are resolved: Musadik Malik

tice “The martyrs have been promised the highest abode in the life hereafter and shall continue to maintain the highest levels of respect amongst the people of Pakistan The State of Pakistan and Armed Forces will always maintain all Shuhada and their families in very high

During his interaction with officers and troops COAS stressed maintaining focus on the army s professionalism and preparedness to deal with complex internal and external security challenges, including propaganda warfare The government has said it has evidence” that PTI workers were involved in the attacks on military installations but the party has distanced itself from the vandals claiming that it preaches peace not violence

Several PTI leaders have also jumped ship after the army and the government alike supported the decision of trying the vandals under the Pakistan Army Act

Pu b l i c t r a n s p o r t f a re s re m a i n u n c h a n g e d d e s p i te d e c re a s e i n p e t ro l e u m p r i c e s

LAHORE S H A H A B O M E R

In a disappointing turn of events the relief in petroleum product prices has failed to reach the general public, leaving them burdened with high transportation costs Public transport fares have not been reduced adding to the woes of commuters across the country

The decision regarding new fare rates by public transporters has been put on hold, prolonging the wait for muchneeded relief Instead, passengers continue to be charged the old fares, exacerbating the financial strain they face due to rising fuel costs

Public transport operators had pre-

viously increased fares by up to 200 rupees following a significant 30-rupee hike in the price of diesel This sudden surge in transportation expenses has hit commuters hard further amplifying the economic challenges faced by the average citizen

Despite a substantial decrease in the prices of petroleum products, which was expected to lead to a reduction in fares no concrete decision has been made to alleviate the burden on passengers This lack of action has left many individuals frustrated and disheartened

According to a survey conducted by Profit, for a journey from Lahore to Rawalpindi commuters are required to pay a hefty sum of 2 550 rupees Trav-

Pakistan to miss expor t target for current fiscal year

eling from Lahore to Peshawar demands a fare of 3 200 rupees while commuting to Faisalabad costs 1 180 rupees

Similarly the fare from Lahore to Sargodha stands at 1 250 rupees Sialkot at 1,000 rupees, Bahawalpur at 2,500 rupees, Multan at 2,190 rupees, Tounsa at 2,500 rupees, and Lahore to Karachi at a staggering 7,300 rupees Meanwhile the fare from Lahore to Hyderabad has reached 7 200 rupees

The dissatisfaction among travelers is palpable as they express their concerns and disappointment

Speaking to Profit a passenger Talib Hussain said, “It’s incredibly frustrating that despite the decrease in petroleum prices public transport fares remain un-

changed How are we supposed to manage our expenses when transportation costs keep rising? The government needs to prioritize the well-being of its citizens and ensure that relief measures are actually implemented, he said Naveed Ashraf, another passenger who regularly travels from Lahore to Islamabad said, “I’m appalled by the lack of action from public transport operators They quickly increased fares when fuel prices went up but they are conveniently ignoring the recent decrease This is unfair to passengers who rely on public transport and are already struggling to make ends meet It’s time for the authorities to step in and hold these operators accountable ” Ashraf said

ISLAMABAD

I N P

Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik on

Wednesday stated that the implementation of the cost-effective petrol scheme has been delayed until concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are adequately addressed and resolved The minister, while talking exclusively to a private TV news channel, expressed that there might have been a lack of effective communication in conveying government’s stance on the cheap petrol scheme to the IMF The scheme which aimed to provide affordable petrol prices to the public has faced obstacles due to the IMF s apprehensions regarding its impact on the country s economy and fiscal stability Before moving forward with the implementation of the cheap petrol scheme, the government is committed to taking all required measures to address the concerns raised by the IMF he added Promising a significant reduction in petroleum product prices the minister mentioned that a shipment of oil from Russia is currently being ordered Further details and updates on commercial aspects of the deal are yet to be disclosed According to the Minister of State for Petroleum there are two key policies being pursued The first policy aims to upgrade the current refineries and the matter of capital injection amounting to approximately 14 billion dollars will be resolved within a few months The second policy pertains to the establishment of new refineries, which has already received approval

Punjab finally resumes daily flour supply to KP

g R e s i d e n t s f i n a l l y r e c e i v e r e l i e f, w i t h r e d u c e d f l o u r p r i c e s i n p r o v i n c e

PESHAWAR

A Z I Z B U N E R I

said: If someone is thinking this strategy will work, look at this, said Imran as he points towards a sheet in which it was depicted that 70 per cent of people supported PTI

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday invited all stakeholders to sit and talk while there was still time as he fears another arrest during a raid at his residence in Lahore s Zaman Park

“The party which has 70% popularity you cannot finish it PDM only wants to pit army against PTI Everyone should realise what is happening and have some sense he added

April FY23 were recorded at $23 174 billion whereas the import remained $46 887 billion in the first 10 months of 2022-23 Sources said that the Secretary planning, development and reforms will chair the Annual plan coordination committee meeting on May 23 for recommending macroeconomic and development plans for the next budget FY 2023-24 As per the details the Finance ministry has proposed Rs700 billion indicative Budget Ceiling for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) On the other hand the Planning commission is asking for a Rs1200 billion development budget for next fiscal year The federal government has so far utilized Rs 391 billion on different schemes of the PSDP out of the total funding of Rs 712 billion The Planning Ministry is also proposing an allocation of Rs200 billion through Public Private Partnership (P3) for the next budget sources added Sources said that the National Economic Council (NEC) is also expected to meet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the first week of June 2023

Probably my last tweet before my next arrest Police has surrounded my house, he wrote on his official Twitter handle while sharing live link to his address to party supporters on YouTube Meanwhile the police have blocked traffic coming from Mall Road to Zaman Park Heavy police force is deployed near Zaman Park Dharmpura Bridge, Allama Iqbal Road, Mall Road, and Garhi Shahu Canal Road areas of the city Policemen wearing bulletproof jackets armed with batons are present with their mobile vans An unusual rush of traffic on Dharmapura Bridge is witnessed as policemen are standing alert on the roadside The police are searching big vehicles coming from Canal Road to Mall Road and Zaman Park V E H I C L E W I T H P T I F L A G B A R R E D, W O R K E R S D E TA I N E D

According to sources, vehicles displaying PTI flags are being stopped and party workers present inside are being detained A few vehicles were not allowed to go towards Zaman Park due to party flags There is still time Talk and be wise The only solution to this crisis is elections

Those who can make elections happen, I appeal to them save the country by holding elections,” Imran said while addressing party supporters shortly after his tweet

On reports of PTI leaders leaving party he

This (confrontation between PTI and military) will cause a huge backlash which would be damaging to the country, he added Imran said that his party workers tried to stop people from burning down the fighter jet model erected at Jahaz Chowk in Mianwali but the miscreants did not stop We re going to the high court soon to form a judicial commission as we have evidence now We saw people everywhere who did not belong to our party and had pistols They were instigating people to attack the Corp Commander ’s house ” he claimed He also claimed that 25 people belonging to his party have been killed so far in the protests whereas 700 others with bullet wounds are hospitalised and 7,500 were in prison including women I have heard 40 terrorists are in my house and we have given them refuge If there are 40 terrorists here then my life is in danger as well Please do come here but in a civilised manner not like you re attacking It might be good for me too Don t make it an excuse to attack he added

The former prime minister said that whatever happened on May 9 was part of a plan IG Punjab should be called for what happened at Jinnah House From Liberty Chowk [in Lahore] people were moving to Jinnah House but no one stopped them In a fair investigation all will be revealed ”

The long-standing flour crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has finally come to an end as the supply of wheat flour from Punjab has commenced on a temporary basis resulting in a notable decrease in flour prices across the province Sabir Bangash, former President of the Flour Mills Association, disclosed that the supply of flour from Punjab has begun through a permit system with a daily allocation of 3 000 metric tons of wheat flour being distributed to KP Elaborating on the situation Bangash emphasised that the KP government is currently providing local flour mills with 3,000 metric tons of wheat on a daily basis, despite the province s actual requirement being 15,000 metric tons This temporary arrangement has significantly alleviated the flour shortage As a result of the temporary supply from Punjab the prices of flour have witnessed a decline with the cost of a bag decreasing from Rs 500 to Rs 300 as shared by Sabir Bangash However there is concern that if Punjab halts the supply, flour prices may surge once again Shiraz Akram Bacha, the Provincial Advisor on Food, addressed the media, confirming that flour mills across all districts of KP are now receiving wheat supplies and the daily provision of 3 000 metric tons of wheat flour from Punjab has been initiated He said this concerted effort has successfully resolved the scarcity of flour, ensuring abundant quantities are now available in the local markets Bacha further informed that the price of a 20-kilogram bag of flour has been standardised across various districts within KP However when comparing flour prices in the private market KP still experiences slightly higher rates compared to other provinces According to Bacha the fixed cost of a 20-kilogram bag of flour in KP now stands at Rs 2,480 Despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan has been heavily reliant on wheat imports to meet its domestic requirements over the past couple of years However this year ’s wheat crop production has seen a significant improvement contributing to the resolution of the flour crisis Underlining the significance of wheat as a staple food in Pakistan Bacha emphasised that the average con-

Smuggling threatens closure of Pak istan’s steel industr y, billions of investment at stake

smuggling we are witnessing is unprecedented and has reached a critical level warns Wajid Bukhari Secretary General of PALSP adding If immediate action is not taken, irreparable damage will occur to our industry

Despite persistent appeals from PALSP to the government for decisive action their pleas have largely gone unanswered Authorities have conducted temporary raids and cosmetic operations that fail to address the root causes of the problem In response to the gravity of the situation, the Prime Minister personally intervened, forming an inter-agency committee with the task of devising a comprehensive strategy to combat smuggling Additionally the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) launched a massive crackdown on smuggling operations across various locations Unfortunately, these ef-

forts have provided only temporary relief and have not offered a lasting solution

During a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Senators exposed the involvement of official patronage in smuggling activities, revealing the extent of corruption Shockingly fixed rates for smuggled goods were uncovered with exorbitant fees charged for truckloads of illicit steel ranging from Rs 500 000 to Rs 600 000 Furthermore each checkpoint reportedly accepted bribes ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs 300,000 for smooth clearance The influx of illicit steel flooded the market, with dealers openly offering non-tax-paid smuggled steel at significantly lower rates PALSP reveals that smuggled steel currently accounts for approximately 15% of the country s long steel domestic manufac-

turing capacity

This illicit inflow of steel not only undermines the local market but also jeopardizes the viability of steel producers leading to widespread job losses and unemployment The consequences of rampant smuggling are dire, as the closure of the domestic steel industry would have farreaching ramifications for Pakistan’s economy as a whole

With billions of rupees in investments at stake the livelihoods of countless workers are hanging in the balance, and the industry faces irrecoverable damage

Deeply concerned about the industry’s fate, PALSP has presented a series of recommendations to combat the smuggling crisis To protect our steel industry immediate measures are required emphasizes Bukhari They propose restricting the import of steel exclusively to sea routes, en-

suring tighter control and supervision

The installation of additional checkpoints equipped with state-of-the-art scanning devices and equipment is also advised to enhance security measures PALSP advocates for digitalization replacing manual processes to improve efficiency and reduce opportunities for corruption

Moreover the association emphasizes the urgent need to deploy more personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC), Police, and Army at checkpoints to strengthen enforcement efforts To discourage smuggling PALSP calls for strict penalties not only for those directly involved in the illegal trade but also for those complicit in turning a blind eye to these activities

If immediate and comprehensive action is not taken, the consequences for Pakistan’s steel industry will be catastrophic The government must act swiftly to save this vital sector protect billions of rupees in investments and secure the livelihoods of thousands of workers

The plight of the steel industry has become a national concern, with experts warning that the closure

S till time, talk and be wise as polls only solution to crisis: Imran